It can feel hard and confusing to start exercising again after a surgery, injury or diagnosis. Yet movement is vital in order to heal, return to function and gain strength in the activities you love.

In today's episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist Jessica Valant discusses the nine steps you need to take in order to start movement and exercise after a surgery, injury or diagnosis. She draws from both her professional expertise as well as her personal experience recovering from six different surgeries - including hysterectomy and mastectomy - in order to bring you truly valuable and compassionate advice.

You will feel both empowered and hopeful again when it comes to knowing your body and feeling strong after listening.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ How To Exercise for Beginners: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body/id1649561552?i=1000684104488

⚫︎ How To Feel Safe In Your Body: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body/id1649561552?i=1000583302985

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠⁠⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠⁠⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠⁠⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠⁠⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠⁠⁠

➡️ Air Doctor - http://www.airdoctorpro.com

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Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we enter the new year, we are bombarded with messages about setting goals, making resolutions and "new year new you". It can leave us feeling anywhere from inadequate to completely stressed out.

In today's episode, Jessica offers a different strategy for entering the new year. She discusses the importance of honoring the previous year and she then walks through her personal process for setting goals and intentions for the year to come. She offers the possibility of discovering a more gentle and - ultimately - motivating way to create goals for yourself.

This is a great listen for the new year or anytime you are wanting to dive into what you really want to get out of life.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ THRIVE Four Week Program starting January 5th! 🎉https://members.jessicavalant.com/register/muscle-strength-program/

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠⁠

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connections are my shorter episodes that include my inner thoughts, behind the scenes realities, tangents and experiences to help us feel more connected!

Let's talk about how it feels when things don't go as planned. As we head into the holiday season, it's easy to feel disappointed and frustrated if things don't go as planned or we don't feel as happy as we think we should. Here are my thoughts around what I do when things don't go as planned.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠⁠⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠⁠⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠⁠⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠⁠⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠⁠⁠

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rest is one of the most important aspects of overall health and well being. Yet it is extremely undervalued and even avoided in our high productivity, high expectation and high hustle culture.

In today's episode of Meet Your Body, Jessica discusses how rest has to be an intentional aspect of your physical and mental health. She dives into:

- What true rest is and isn't

- The physiological changes in your body when you experience rest

- The value of five minute changes throughout your day

- Specific actions you can take starting today to make rest a part of your life

From over committing to doom scrolling to wanting to have that perfect image for social media, we have lost our connection to rest in our lives. The good news is that we can make changes today to discover the practice of rest - and, ultimately, joy - for ourselves.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ Exercises for relaxation: https://youtu.be/XgavixklVw0

⚫︎ Jessica's chronic stress story podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body/id1649561552?i=1000622418858⁠

⚫︎ How to get better sleep podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body/id1649561552?i=1000700931343

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connections are my shorter episodes that include my inner thoughts, behind the scenes realities, tangents and experiences to help us feel more connected!

Today I'm telling you the things I never share anywhere else. These are things I don't talk about on social media, emails or posts and include some of my regrets, fears and more. Maybe you can relate...

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠⁠

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the ultimate question in fitness - Pilates or weight lifting? Today I'm getting to the heart of the matter and unpacking this common question for all of us.

We will discuss:

- The benefits of both Pilates and lifting weights and what each is lacking

- My biggest red flag in fitness

- Why it's beneficial to have multiple fitness modalities in your life

- The ultimate answer to which is better - Pilates or lifting weights

We get straight to the facts and truth around this topic so you can create a simple and effective home exercise plan for yourself! You won't want to miss this episode.

Visit http://www.airdoctorpro.com and use code MEETYOURBODY for $300 off your own Air Doctor purifier! Named best air purifier by Newsweek. Thanks to our sponsors who make this show possible.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ Four Week New Year Program - Pilates and Weights http://www.jessicavalant.com/unlimited

⚫︎ Beginner Pilates Workout at home: https://youtu.be/ebq5vPWvvOc⁠⁠

⚫︎ Beginner Dumbbell Workout at home: https://youtu.be/iYGA8ITk_tw

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠Jessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - ⁠https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8r⁠Google - ⁠https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fp⁠

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Jessica and Dr. Lashonda Jones as they dive into the intricacies and importance of prenatal support and postpartum recovery. In this episode

they discuss:

⚫︎ Why new moms must learn to prioritize their own health needs

⚫︎ The definition of diastasis recti and how to address it

⚫︎ What a safe postpartum exercise program looks like

⚫︎ C-section healing and recovery

⚫︎ The role of physical therapy in regaining strength and confidence after childbirth

Whether you are a new mom, years past childbirth or supporting someone you love, this conversation is packed with practical advice and encouragement to help you feel empowered in your body.

Dr. Lashonda Jones is a Ortho-Pelvic Doctor of Physical therapy, Certified personal trainer, Pre/postnatal corrective exercise specialist with over 19 years of experience. She's the owner of Core Elevation Fitness and Wellness,Inc, a global online company helping moms and women safely return to exercise, heal their diastasis and restore their core and pelvic floors after birth or abdominal surgery. She’s also the creator of the Cesarean Recovery and Safe Return to Exercise Guide and primary author on the 2025 Cesarean Delivery Rehab Protocol—tools that are raising the bar for postpartum care around the globe.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ Dr. Lashonda Jones: https://www.coreelevationfitness.com

⚫︎ Dr. Lashonda Jones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptrainershonda/

⚫︎ Free C-section recovery must have list from Dr. Jones: https://www.coreelevationfitness.com/c-section-recovery-must-have-list

⚫︎ Free prolapse resource guide: ⁠https://jessicavalant.com/prolapse-safe-exercise-program⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connections are my shorter episodes that include my inner thoughts, behind the scenes realities, tangents and experiences to help us feel more connected!

Today I'm talking about my thoughts on the introvert and extrovert spectrum and how I grew up believing I was one, while it turns out I'm more like the other!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Jessica Valant and Marita Radloff, MS, RDN as they delve into the world of nutrition for women.

Food is fuel and has the power to support our bodies, minds and souls. In this episode, Marita discusses how women have been trained over time to be small and eat less and how this is actually harmful to our overall health. Marita goes on to discuss the details and science around how much protein we need, the importance of fiber, building a balanced plate and supplements - all through the lens of eating for overall health and enjoyment.

Whether you're navigating menopause or simply looking to improve your diet and relationship to food, this conversation offers valuable insights for everyone.

Marita Radloff is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with over ten years of experience working with athletes of all levels. She’s also a military spouse currently living in Omaha with her husband and three boys. Marita doesn’t believe in restrictive diets, but instead helps clients learn to eat nourishing foods that they actually enjoy, supporting their life and training. When not working, Marita writes for nutrition outlets and enjoys baking and working out.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ Marita Radloff website: https://www.maritaradloff.com

⚫︎ Marita's nutrition course for endurance athletes: https://nailyournutrition.podia.com

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⁠

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:⁠http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⁠

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast⁠

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates⁠

 ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: ⁠http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates⁠

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connections are my shorter episodes that include my inner thoughts, behind the scenes realities, tangents and experiences to help us feel more connected!

Today I'm talking about how I'm feeling as the holiday season start and the reality of not having a picture perfect house during the holiday season.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:
http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com

⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:
http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited

⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast

 ⚫︎ YouTube workouts:
 https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates

 
⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram:
 http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates

Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices